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Taming the Paper Tiger at Work

The Big Idea

Getting Centered

Organize Your Thoughts
It is tempting to put off organizing things for another day. Unfortunately, constant procrastination often results in you realizing that your files have become unmanageable causing you to mismanage appointments and other work commitments.

“I don’t have the time” is the most common alibi used to explain lack of organization. What you may not realize, however, is that a lot of time is wasted when you try to search for missing documents.

Remember that organization is a tool that will help you be more effective in the work you do. By being organized, you are giving yourself the opportunity to come up with the right materials at exactly the right time they are needed.

Let FAT Work for You

You have to stop thinking that you don't have time to organize. Remember that the process of organization only becomes more difficult in time because clutter accumulate. A task that may take you only an hour to do may take you weeks if you let everything pile up.

To make organization easier for you, use the FAT system:

1. F ile it.
2. A ct on it, or
3. T oss it.

Whenever you receive information, ask yourself if it requires any action. If it required action, file the document and include it in your files that need urgent action. Otherwise, toss it in the wastebasket.

After an action has been done, ask yourself if the file will be important for future reference. If so, file it in your cabinet. Otherwise, toss it. . . . . . .